The Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin describes the thoughts and feelings that are depicted in one hour of the life of Louise Mallard after hearing that her husband’s death in a railroad accident. Kate Chopin uses the protagonist Mrs. Mallard to represent her idea about realism through showing ordinary people and women in particular live suspended between what actually is and what they want in their life. Mrs. Mallard feel the strong need to have a exceptional time alone that would really make a difference for her to acknowledge herself, do something special for herself rather than always doing for others. She gets that time for herself but it was by coincidence and very short.

Mrs. Mallard is a woman trapped in an oppressive marriage, who wants desperately to escape. She is given that chance, quite by accident, when she receives the news of her husband's death. In her room, Louise sinks into a comfortable chair and looks out her window. In a very short time, the newly widowed woman is looking out of the window and sees spring and all the new life it brings. It's obvious that she is happy and not sad as expected from a woman who just heard of her husband's death. But it is expected from a woman who was not happy in her marriage and wished for her freedom. Mrs. Mallard thought and believed that she will enjoy her freedom forever after her husband's death, that's why she couldn't afford the good news of her husband's return alive.